Alwi hopes to mend fences with Australia
Alwi hopes to mend fences with Australia
JAKARTA (JP): Muslim scholar Alwi Shihab, who is widely tipped
to be named the new foreign minister on Tuesday, said on Monday
that he hoped for better ties with Australia under the new
government of President Abdurrahman Wahid.
"With the right approach, God willing, we will strengthen ties
once again," Alwi, known as the President's right-hand man, said
at the Presidential Palace.
The 53-year-old holder of a doctorate in Islamic studies from
Temple University in Philadelphia would not confirm his widely
expected appointment.
Alwi said he met Australian Ambassador to Indonesia John
McCarthy on Monday and the latter expressed his desire to see
amiable bilateral ties restored as soon as possible.
Relations between the two countries have plunged to their
lowest level in recent years over the issue of East Timor, with
Jakarta accusing Canberra of betraying its trust and meddling in
its domestic affairs.
From being the main supporter of Jakarta's claim to East
Timor, Australia became its staunchest critic. In a decision
which many Indonesians considered a further affront, the United
Nations named Australia last month to head the multinational
peacekeeping force in East Timor.
The Australian Embassy in Jakarta has been an almost daily
target of demonstrations. Australian dock workers at one time
boycotted goods bound for or arriving from Indonesia in protest
at Jakarta's failure to stem violence in East Timor. Indonesia
has yet to name its new ambassador to Australia.
In recent weeks during the East Timor crisis, Abdurrahman was
among the harshest Indonesian critics of Australia, vowing to
keep bilateral relations "as cold as possible" if he became
president.
Alwi played down the statement, saying that the new government
would look for the best way of restoring ties with Australia and
overcoming differences in an amicable way.
He noted that Australia had displayed more conciliatory
attitudes, including Prime Minister John Howard's acknowledgment
of some mistakes in Australia's policy toward Indonesia which
were being rectified.
"There is no need for us to remain angry. It is enough that
they know we were angry and displeased," Alwi said.
He said that all religions taught their followers to live in
peace with their neighbors.
"I hope Australia will show that feeling, pay attention to and
consider the sensitivity of its neighbor to avoid untoward
things."
On the prospects of Indonesia opening diplomatic ties with
Israel, Alwi said the new government would initially encourage
the establishment of commercial and cultural ties with the Jewish
state.
Indonesia's economic recovery could benefit from the powerful
lobbies Israel has in international business, he said.
He said the commercial ties could eventually lead to the
establishment of diplomatic ties, but on the condition that
Indonesia was brought into the Middle East peace process and not
before there was a just and fair end to the process.
"As the world's largest Muslim country, Indonesia's voice must
be heard. We could speak on behalf of or in the interest of our
Palestinian brothers," he said.
"Without trade and cultural ties, they (the Israelis) won't
listen to us because we have shut ourselves out. If we open
ourselves up, then someday we could even act as a mediator."
(prb/emb)